Photos From Nov.2 Protest (part 2)

Blocking traffic in an already permitted march is not direct action, but a rather silly game. And if it ws done out of the eprmtted areas, did it have any direct purpose, or was it just to get drivers mad in an any area where 90% of teh people are alreaddy agaisnt Bush and the war. Direct Action would eb shuttign down a corporation makign profit form the wwar, or the Federal buildidng, or a repressive isntitution. or evne trying top burn down the Chronicle building. It may have been stupid and not very well executed,, but the molotov made a more important statement than the rest of the march.

that despite the best efforts of organizers and others who care, some people remain aggressively stupid, even in our own milieu.....

Yes - what occurs to me is that just one or two years ago, there was a series of actions and demonstrations with leadership by groups such as Bay Area Coalition to End War in Iraq, where I was quite impressed by individuals at meetings, and when I talked to people who ended up as leaders, such as David Solnit (who I don't think really wishes to be the leader). The typical person I met was really knowledgeable in international history and politics, and when they would have a brainstorm session, I was often quite impressed in their creative ideas and proposals that wouldn't have occurred to me. This also didn't assort by age, because often the younger people in the group demonstrated remarkable historical knowledge and political awareness, however, often it was older people who had developed contacts and practical knowledge on running a campaign and attracting good media.
But where did they all go?
The last couple big events seem to have fallen into a slump, and the people with talent don't even seem to be at the demonstrations, but are working on community projects or something.

the actions and what not were organized by Direct Action To Stop the War (DASW). Bay area coalition to end the war is more of a socialist party building group, although not as annoying as some, like rcp, answer, etc.

DASW was totally different than that sort of organizing...it was very hands on and very directly democratic, and hell yah, effective.

"Organizers and others who care..." about what?? They care about pandering to the police presence because they are too afraid to go to jail or do anything that is actually a threat against the government they supposedly resent so vehemently. The molotov made two important statements: 1. There are people who are willing to defend themselves by any means necessary against an oppressive police state 2. one person with a molotov is not enough

really, another demonstrayion another show of police dominAnce over everything in this country that smiles ,goes to concerts eats out has espresso has ''girlfriends'', goes downtown to smile and gawk at each other.meanwhile we cant even get peltier or anyone out of some medieval hellhole.LETS GET ACTIVE!!!